1/7/08

Minestrone

Minestrone is probably my number one favorite soup, which is saying a lot, because I love soup! This is adapted from my mom's recipe. I made it last night and Mr. Mordecai proclaimed it just right--no added salt or pepper required! If you like, serve in bread bowls or with lemon-poppyseed scones.

Ingredients

1 pound Italian sausage

1 onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 carrots, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

1 can green beans

6-8 cups water

½ head cabbage, chopped

2 15-ounce cans tomatoes

½ 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach (optional)

1 small zucchini, diced

1 teaspoon each beef and chicken bouillon

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper

½ teaspoon oregano

½ teaspoon basil

½ teaspoon rosemary

½ teaspoon thyme

1 bay leaf

1½ cups cooked beans or 2 15-ounce cans beans, drained (I like some combination of kidney, small red, great northern, or garbanzo)